Republican Party New Mexico

These days, it seems, they're lining up to give New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson an earful: Barry R. McCaffrey, the national drug czar, has called him irresponsible and his ideas dangerous. The local sheriff the other day called Johnson an "idiot" and suggested he check himself into a mental hospital. But the sharpest lash was applied by the middle school cheerleading squad from the town of Bernalillo, which recently boycotted an event with Johnson.

These days, it seems, they're lining up to give New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson an earful: Barry R. McCaffrey, the national drug czar, has called him irresponsible and his ideas dangerous. The local sheriff the other day called Johnson an "idiot" and suggested he check himself into a mental hospital. But the sharpest lash was applied by the middle school cheerleading squad from the town of Bernalillo, which recently boycotted an event with Johnson.

A top election official in New Mexico charged Republican Party activists Tuesday with trying to intimidate voters in this highly contested state after a flier offering a $20,000 reward to those reporting voter fraud was leaked to her office. Republican leaders said they had considered, but later decided against, offering the reward as part of an effort to fight potential voter fraud in predominantly Democratic counties, most of them in rural areas.

The Bush administration's announcement last week that stepped-up enforcement appears to be slowing illegal immigration was designed to send a message: The nation's borders are becoming more secure and it's time to talk about broad immigration reform. That would appear to contradict the message coming from many Republicans on the campaign trail: The border is dangerously porous and talk of reform is premature. But it is less of a contradiction than meets the eye.